Space structure having integral attachment means



J. R. HALE Feb. 27, 1968 Feb. 27, 1968 J. R. HALE 3,370,393

' SPACE STRUCTURE HAVING INTEGRAL ATTACHMENT MEANS FiledApril 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. flue ,Q. 174/6 United States Patent 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-613) ABSTRAGI OF THE DISQLQSURE A space structure formed from welded wire mesh has loops or tangs integrally formed at the weld joints thereof to provide means for attaching such structure to other structural members. The structural members may be bent to form pyramidal truss cOre units with the loop attachment means forming the apices thereof to provide means for attaching the core units to flat structural members between which such core units are sandwiched.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 419,357, filed Dec. 18, 1964, now Patent 3,347,007. This invention relates to a space structure having integrally formed attachment means and more particularly to such a space-structure having attachment means formed at the apices thereof.

In the aforementioned co-pending application, pyramidal space structures are described having improved strength-to-weight ratios which are generally cheaper and easier to fabricate and assemble than other structures having similar characteristics. Particular embodiments are described wherein basic pyramidal truss units are sandwiched between flat welded wire mesh in one instance and between slabs of building material in another. This type of sandwich unit has improved structural characteristics which provide greater rigidity and strength to the structure.

The device of this invention provides improved means for attaching a basic pyramidal truss core unit either to fiat welded wire mesh or to slabs of building material. Such attachment means are integrally formed in the truss core units when they are fabricated and cooperatively engage mating portions formed in the flat welded wire mesh or slab units between which the pyramidal truss cores are sandwiched. In one embodiment, such attachment means take the form of circular loops. In another, they take the form of elongated loops which form tangs. In both instances, the tang and loop attachment means are integrally formed in the fabrication of the truss core members. Such tank and loOp means may also be used in fiat mesh units to attach such mesh units to pyramidal truss cores.

The use of such integrally formed attachment means has several advantages. First, while adding little to the cost of the fabrication of the basic truss units, they greatly facilitate and economize the attachment of such units to associated mesh or slab members. Further, the use of a circular formation at the apices of the pyramidal units provides an increased attachment area where such apices are attached to other members, thus distributing the load at the point of attachment and minimizing post effect.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved pyramidal space structure.

It is a further object of this invention to facilitate the attachment of a pyramidal space structure to other members.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pyramidal space structure having improved load distribution characteristics at the point of attachment to other members.

It is still another object of this invention to facilitate 3,370,393 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 the assembly of pyramidal space structure units with other members.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of which,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the flat mesh unit of a first embodiment of the device of the invention,

FIG. 2. is a plan view of the flat mesh unit of a second embodiment of the device of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the mesh unit of FIG. 1 formed into a pyramidal space truss core,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the flat mesh unit of FIG. 2, formed into a pyramidal space truss core,

FIG. 5 is an elevation view illustrating how the embodiment of FIG. 4 may be attached to mesh units of FIG. 1,

FIG. 6 is an elevation view showing how the embodiment of FIG. 3 may be attached to mesh units of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is an elevation view illustrating how the embodiment of FIG. 3 may be attached with rivets to a pair of panel members,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the attachment of the truss unit of FIG. 4 to a pair of panel members, and

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative configuration 'for the units of FIGS. 2 and 4 utilizing a single tang unit at each apex.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a flat welded wire mesh which may be utilized in the device of the invention is illustrated. The welded wire mesh is formed in an appropriate machine so that at each weld joint the wires are formed into open ended loop sections 14a and 1412 which abut against each other in substantial concentricity, with the open portions of the loops opposite each other so that no open loop portions are presented in the final structure. The mesh elements may, as indicated, be substantially diamond-shaped.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the device of the invention is shown in which tangs lea and 16b are formed at the weld joints 15. Tangs 16a and 16b which are in the form of open ended loops are positioned with their open ends opposite each other so that no open ends are presented in the final structure. In a situation where only a single tang 16a is required, one of the tangs can be eliminated as shown in FIG. 9. The tang configuration of FIG. 9 has an advantage'in situations where the truss may be subjected to high stretching loads which might cause the loops to pul apart. In this configuration, of course, such pull apart is prevented.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a pyramidal space truss core formed from the mesh unit of FIG. 1 is illustrated. This space truss core is formed by folding the mesh in a zigzag form. This operation may be performed in a bending machine.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a pyramidal space structure can also be formed from the fiat welded wire mesh shown in FIG. 2, in the same fashion as for the embodiment of FIG. 3, again by folding the mesh in a zigzag configuration.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the attachment of the pyramidal truss unit of FIG. 4 to a pair of flat mesh units of the configuration of FIG. 1 is shown. In achieving such attachment, the tang members 16a and 16b are bent upwardly as indicated and then placed through the looped portions 14:: and 14b of the flat mesh units; tangs 16a and 16b are then bent over to lie flat against loop 14a as indicated. The pyramidal truss unit is thus sandwiched between a pair of flat mesh units.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the combination of the flat mesh units of FIG. 2 with the pyramidal unit of FIG. 3 is illustrated. Tang units 16a and 16b of the flat mesh are first bent normal to the plane of the mesh as indicated by the dotted line. The tangs are then inserted through the loops 14a and 14b and then bent flat against the loops to provide the desired holding action.

Referring now to FIG. 7, first means for attaching the pyramidal truss unit of FIG. 3 to a pair of flat panel members is illustrated. The attachment is achieved by means of rivets 20 which pass through loop portions 14a and 14b of the space truss, and apertures formed in panel 21 and 22.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the utilization of the pyramidal space truss core of FIG. 4 with a pair of flat slab members to form a sandwich panel is illustrated. Tangs 16a and 16b of the truss unit are first bent upwardly as indicated by the dotted lines. The tangs are then inserted through holes 30 formed in panel members 33 and 34. Holding attachment is then achieved by bending tangs 16a and 16b flat against the outer surfaces of the panel members.

The device of this invention thus provides simple yet highly effective means for incorporating an integral holding device in pyramidal space truss units and/ or associated mesh units. This greatly facilitates the attachment of such truss units to either flat mesh units or panels.

While the device of the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is intended by Way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by Way of limitation, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited only by the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A space truss member comprising a welded wire mesh,

said mesh including a plurality of Wire units formed to provide the sides of the mesh elements and having open ended loops integrally formed therein at the portions thereof forming the corners of said mesh elements,

said wire units being welded together at the points where said loops are formed, said loops at each such juncture arranged adjacent to each other in symmetrical overlapping fashion with the open ended portions of said loops opposite each other whereby the loops at each said juncture form an enclosure.

2. A pyramidal space structure comprising a plurality of similar pyramidal truss units, said truss units being formed from wire elements, said wire elements being looped at the portions thereof forming the pyramidal apices to form open ended loops and welded together at said apices with said open ended loops symmetrically arranged adjacent to each other in overlapping fashion, the open end portions of said loops being located opposite fi h t i9 QI a d -F9:

3. The space structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said loops are substantially circular, the loops at each apex being concentrically arranged.

4. The structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said loops form elongated tangs symmetrically arranged opposite each other.

5. A space structure comprisingi a pyramidal space truss core,

saidspace truss core including a plurality of pyramidal truss units, I

said truss units having open ended loop portions integral therewith forming tangs at the apices thereof,

a flat sheet member having a plurality of relatively small apertures formed therein,

said tang members fitting through said apertures and being flattened against said flat sheet member to join said pyramidal truss to said sheet member.

6. A pyramidal space structure comprising:

a welded wire mesh,

said mesh including a plurality of wire units formed to provide the sides of the mesh elements and having open ended loops integrally formed therein at the portions thereof forming the corners of said mesh' elements, said wire units being welded together at the points where said loops are formed, with said loops at;each

such juncture arranged adjacent to each other in.

symmetrical overlapping fashion With the open ended portions of said loops opposite each other thereby forming an enclosure. said welded wire mesh being folded in zigzag fashion to form a plurality of pyramidal truss core units. 7. The space structure as recited in claim 6 wherein said wire units are substantially diamond-shaped.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

JR., Examiner. 

